Museum of the Master  Saddler

European Heritage Week  2008

THE HORSEDRAWN POST PROJECT

Sat 23 & Sun 24 August

As part of its contribution to the Irish and European Heritage Week 2008, The Museum of the Master Saddler launched the Horsedrawn Post Project.   This ongoing project will seek to research and document the role of the horse within Ireland’s postal system.  At a later date it is the intention to drive some of these old postal routes using the Museum’s 1896 Beaufort cart, a beautifully preserved varnished vehicle which has already been used in several films.

One of the oldest institutions in Ireland, a postal system was first introduced by Queen Elizabeth in 1518 linking Dublin and London via Bristol and Holyhead.  The word POST derives from the fact that in the early days a rider rode from one staging post to another 20 miles apart before handling over to another Post Boy.

The earliest staging system in Ireland was established in 1640 by Evan Vaughn a Dublin Postmaster, with routes out of Dublin running to Cork, Limerick, Galway & Sligo and Belfast & Londonderry.  A private postal system was also in operation until it was outlawed by Oliver Cromwell in 1657 and in regards to letter post is still in effect today.  The introduction of the Penny Post in 1840 popularised letter post as it became more affordable. 

This ongoing exhibition documents the role of the horse within Ireland’s postal system.

Exhibits include pictures, maps, Reward Notices & other items of postal history.

Supported by The Heritage Council